Hormones are like your body’s behind-the-scenes directors, keeping things like your periods, mood, energy, and fertility in check. We’re usually looking at key players like:
- Estrogen (the big one for cycles, bones, and mood—think estradiol as the star subtype).
- Progesterone (helps with pregnancy and keeping cycles regular).
- FSH and LH (from your brain’s pituitary gland; they kickstart ovulation and signal how your ovaries are doing).
- Testosterone (yep, women have it too—for drive, strength, and libido).
- Thyroid hormones (like TSH; they control your metabolism and can fake out other hormone symptoms).
- And sometimes extras like cortisol (stress) or insulin (if metabolism’s involved).
Tests are simple—blood, urine, or saliva—and timed to your cycle if needed (like day 3 for basics or mid-cycle for progesterone). But here’s the thing: levels bounce around naturally, so a single test isn’t a crystal ball. Docs combine it with your story, exams, and symptoms. No symptoms? Skip the routine poke—it’s not backed by guidelines.
